He was
proud, he would not accept favors without repaying them, he liked a
good time, perhaps he was a little fast; not dissipated--I should
have known if he were that--but--careless--and what you men call a
'good fellow.' At any rate, he--"
Again she paused. Jed, sitting on the box, clasping his knee
between his hands, waited anxiously for her to continue.
"Of course you can guess what happened," she said, sadly, after a
moment. "It was the old story, that is all. Charlie was living
beyond his means, got into debt and speculated in stocks, hoping to
make money enough to pay those debts. The stocks went down and--
and--well, he took money belonging to his employer to protect his
purchases."
She waited, perhaps expecting her companion to make some comment.
He did not and again she spoke.
"I know he meant only to borrow it," she declared. "I KNOW it. He
isn't bad, Mr. Winslow; I know him better than any one and he ISN'T
bad. If he had only come to me when he got into the trouble!
If he had only confided in me! But he was proud and--and he
didn't. . . . Well, I won't tell you how his--his fault was
discovered; it would take a long time and it isn't worth while.
They arrested him, he was tried and--and sent to prison for two
years."
For the first time since she began her story Jed uttered a word.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209